WarnerMedia Extends Partnership with Mo Willems

WarnerMedia Kids & Family has expanded its partnership with Emmy-winning children’s book author, illustrator and playwright Mo Willems.

As part of the partnership, HBO Max has extended its licensing rights to the Emmy-nominated special Mo Willems and the Storytime All-Stars Present: Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! and Mo Willems Story Time Shorts!, both available on the platform now.

Mo Willems and the Storytime All-Stars Present: Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! presents stories, songs and sing-alongs, as well as an opportunity to draw with Willems. It features performances from celebrities such as Anthony Anderson (black-ish), Yvette Nicole Brown (Community), Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live), Cameron Esposito (Take My Wife), Tony Hale (Veep), Greta Lee (Russian Doll), Tom Lennon (The Odd Couple), Natalie Morales (Abby’s) and Oscar Nunez (The Office).

Mo Willems Storytime Shorts! is a collection of animated adaptations of the author’s books, including Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Nanette’s Baguette, Knuffle Bunny Free, An Unexpected Diversion and many more. The shorts were voiced by Willems and his close family and friends.

Upcoming projects from Willems include Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Underground Rock Experience, premiering summer 2022, a one-hour rock music special that sees Wilbur Mole Rat discover clothing and a love for style. Willems co-wrote the script with Tom Warburton and created original music with composer Deborah Wicks La Puma. The special will be available on Cartoonito on HBO Max and Cartoon Network.

Also upcoming from Willems is Unlimited Squirrels!, a series that centers on Zoomy and his group of squirrel friends, who help him navigate new encounters and learn things along the way. Willems will co-write with Tim McKeon. The series will land on Cartoonito in 2023.